Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



D. LAWSON. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1918.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919..

' film-afar.- David Law 012,

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D. LAWSON. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1918.

1,296,671. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET? r5 g 3i /6 0 I J a 75 V 46* Q) 56 S as 1 42 4 as 41 r M'hzesses: 1 lnvenfar; I Dawd Lawson! DAVID LAWSON, OF WEST NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING nrrnnnros.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

application filed une 27, 1918. Serial No. 242,208.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID LAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in West New Brighton, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers in general and more especially to systems for protecting non-land supported constructions such as sea-going vessels and the like against fire in holds, bunkers, and other in closed parts.

The average fire extinguishing systems in use by which a fire extinguishing or non-. fire supporting substance is discharged to suffocate a blaze, generally depend upon a balancing systemfor maintaining the apparatus inactii e is not present. While such balancing systems may be entirely adequate and effective for usein buildings and the like, located on land, the disturbances to which non-land supported constructions such as. sea-going vessels, airships, and the like are subjected, would cause the system to function even if no fire were present. To this end, the present invention has for a main object to provide an apparatus that is positive and direct in its action, is automatic in its operation, and can be arranged to function at any desired temperature, but which is not sensitive to the ordinary disturbing influences to which a non-land supported construction is subjected, aside from the particular rise in temperature above a given maximum at which the apparatus is intended'to function.

To carry out the aforesaid object, the present invention contemplates the use of a given quantity of air or the like under compression, such quantity and compression being calculated to suflice for the cubic space to be protected, which compressed substance when released will cause the discharge of a given quantity of a non-combustible fluid 0r fire extinguishing element.

The present invention further contemplates the use of a mechanism' which will positively seal the container of a compressed substance under normal temperature but will function to open thev communication from such container to a fire extinguishing element when the temperature rises above a given maximum.

when occasion for lts use The present invention still further contemplates the use of a substance sensitive to a low riseinitemperature, preferably a metal bar or the like of low melting point, which however will possess sufiicient rigidlty and strength under normal temperature to positively anchor against functioning, amechanism for destroying the seal of a compression tank or container, and which metal bar will give way, that is collapse or melt, above a given temperature,

to release the'seal destraying mechanism for action.

A special object of the invention is an 7 electrical controlling means operable by a rise in temperature above a given maximum which will excite'a fire alarm and an electrical heating system to in turn influence the anchoring mechanism seal destroying mechanism, which pressure tank are adapted to act upon and expel a fire extinguishing element.

of a pressure tank. the contents of.

A particular feature of the present invention is the mechanism for destroying the pressure tank seal.

These and other features, cap-abilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the 'subjoined' detail description of one specific embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, showing the main parts of the present apparatus, with the connecting means somewhat diagrammatically shown. v

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmental' sectional views showing the successive positions of the seal destroying mechanism upon being released, and after having destroyed the seal, respectively.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the several parts of the mechanism and the electrical connections therewith.

In the present embodiment there is provided a pressure tank or container 10, for

air or the like under pressure, which is preferably provided with an inlet means 11 at its bottom which is sealed after the tank has been charged in any suitable manner, a. 'gage 13 secured to the tank 10. The head 13 in the present instance has a downward extension 14 internally threaded to receive the lower end of the chamber 15 forming member 16, which has a flange 17 preferably secured to the head 13 to prevent leakage from the tank 10. Mounted on the tank there is tinguishing element or non-combustible fluid such as carbon tetrachlorid or the like. Also communicating .with the upper end of the 7 container 25 is the conduit 26 which extends to suitable pipe connections 27 provided with outlet heads 28-. The member 16 is provided with an extension 29 having an inner conical seat 30 to receive the conical plug 31. To the lower end of the extension 29 there is preferably secured a cage 32 for. receiving the plug 31 when knocked out of the extension 29. The operation of the foregoing is substantially as follows: After the head 13 and member 16 are secured in place on the .tank 10 and the plug 31 is properly secured in the seat 30 of the extension 29, and the tank 10 charged with air or the like under compression, then upon a fire occurring and the mechanism having been released to knock out the plug 31 or seal for the tank 10 from its seat 30, the compressed air will be permitted to escape through the extension 29 into the chamber 15 and from there through the corn duit 20 to the container 25, there to act'on the fire exinguishing element to expel the same from such container 25 out through the connections 26 and 27 and the heads 28, but one head being shown in Fig. l.

. Through the upper end of the member 16 extends the rod 33, a suitable packing gland 34 being provided between the rod 33 and the member 16 to prevent leakage from said chamber 15 along said rod 33. The upper end of the rod 33 extends into the cylindrical member 35 which is secured to the member 16 and mounted thereon. The lower end "of the rod 33 normally rests on the upper end of the plug 31 when the same is secured in its seat 30. The plug 31 is preferably provided with a thin annular lower edge 31' to engage the lower end of the seat 30 and be soldered thereto by soft solder. such thin lower edge," due to the pressure in the tank 10 being spread out tightly against the seat 30 and thereby furthersecured and locked thereby to properly seal the tank 10.

g The upper end of the rod 33 is adapted to be engaged by the hammer end of the bolt 36 'which is reciprocably mounted in the cylinwith the rod 39 by the arm 40 which arm is hereinafter to be described,-

slidably mounted the slots 41 and 42 in the bolt. 36 and cylinder 35 respectively. The rod 39 is reciprocably mounted in the hambered extension 43 of the cylinder 35,

the lower end of .Which extension 43 is closed to form an abutment for the spring 44 strained between such closed end and the rod 39 to exercise an upward strain on the rod 39. A diminished pin portion 45 is provided at the lower end of the pin 38 to coiiperate with theballs 46 disposed in-the lower end of the chamber 37 of the bolt 36. The lower end of the chamber 37 is provided .with openings 47 which are adapted to register with the seats or pockets 48 formed in the cylinder 35 when the bolt 36 is disposed in its raised position against the tension of the spring 49 which is strained between the upper closed end of the cylinder 35 and the upper end of the bolt 36. For locking the bolt 36 in such raised position, the rod 39 Instance, with a bar 50, which is secured at 51. This bar is preferably composed of a suitable fusible material or the like .which will collapse or give way upon the rise in temperature above a given maximum but .which material will be suflicientlyrigid and strong to anchor the rod 39 in its lowermost position against the tension of the spring 44. When the rod '39 and thereby the theretoconnected pin 38 is anchored in its lowermost position, the pin portion 45 will register .with the seats 48, and consequently, ifthe bolt 36 .were raised so that its openings 47 also registered with the seats 48, the balls 46 would be forced outwardly to extend and be positioned in the openings 47 and seats 48, thereby to lock the bolt 36 in its raised position. The bolt will be thus anchored in its raised position when the apparatus is at normal or inactive, but ready, when released by the collapse or giving away of the .bar 50, to strike the rod 33 which in turn will strike the plug 31 to destroy the sealof the tank 10. i 'It will thus be seen that the electrical heater 51 is the initiating element for the escape of the air from the tank 10. To excite this electrical heater in case of fire, the same is connected by electrical conductors now to be described, 'which are adapted to excite an electric current through said electric heater whenever a contact is made by contacts that are automatically operated whenever the temperature rises above a given maximum. To this end, one of the binding posts 52 of the heater 51 is connected by the .conductor 53 with the binding post 54 connected by the conductor 55 with the binding post 56 which is connected by the conductor 24 with the conductor 57 which in turn is connected to one of the contacts 58 of the thermostatic device.' The contact 58 provided at its upper end, in the present 60 with the conductor 61 whichis connected at one end to the resistance'62 and at its other end to the plug 63 and the resistance 62 is connected by the conductor 64 with the conductor 23 which is also connected with the plug 63. The plug 63 may be connected with any suitable well-known wall socket 77 connected to a suitable source of electric current. The conductor 23 is connected atone end to the binding post 73 which is mounted on the conductor 74, one end of which is adapted to contact with the conductor 55 when the bar 50 has collapsed and the pin 38 is permitted to rise. To the binding post 73 is also connected the conductor 75 which is connected at its other end to the binding post 76 of the heater'51.

- conductors 60, 57, 24, 55,

The conductor 23 is preferably connected to a solenoid which when energized will attract the armature 66 so that it will bridge the contacts 67 and 68 to form a circuit through the conductors 69 and 70 connected to the source of electric energy signal device or bell 72 so that whenever a fire occurs and the contacts 58 and 59 make contact and complete a circuit through the conductor 23, the signal will be given by such bell 72. From the foregoing it is obvious that my system is under constant super vising electric control, but the amount of current used to keep thecircuit alive is very small and the amount of energy wasted through From the foregoing it will be seen that when a fire occurs, and actuates the thermostatic device-the current whichis normally passing through the conductors 61, resistance 62, and conductor 64, will alsopass throu h the 53, heater 5 conductor 75, and conductor 23, whereupon the heater 51 will be energized thereby heating the bar 50 which will give way and permit the balls 46 to drop into the receding bottom of the chamber 37 and out ofthe seats 48 to permit the spring 49 to drive the bolt 36 into contact with the rod 33 to in turn knock out the plug 31. As soon as the bar 50 has given way and consequently the bolt 36 released, with the rise of the pin 38, the contact 74 will engage the cont-act 55 thereby to shunt the heater 51.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention or exce scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with taininga fluid under pressure a tank for condischargeable chargeable to expel said ment, there being a communication I from sa1d tank to sa1d container, a pressure seal of" 71 and the means for initiating the resistance "62, is very small.

holding fire-extinguishing element, of a tank 'for holding a propulsion element dischargepin 38 to rise, thereby permitting the ling the 7. Thecombination with taming a fluid under pressure dischargeto expel a fire-extinguishing element, ofia a rise in temperature above a given maxlmum.

'2. The combination with a tank for containing apropulsion element dischargeable to expel a fire-extinguishing element, of a pressure seal of plug shape for "closing said dislodg'eable'by i for dislodging by a blow tank against discharge and dislodgeable by a blow, and means for dislodging by a blow said seal upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum. f v

y 3. The combination with a container for holding a fire-extinguishing element, of a tank for holding a propulsion element. disextinguishing eleplug shape for said communication and dislodgeable by a blow, and means for dislodging said pressure seal upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum. 1

4. The combination with a container for holding a' fireextinguishing element, of a tank for holding a propulsion element d18- chargeable to expel said extinguishing element, there being a communication from said tank to said container, a pressure seal of'plug shape for said communication and dislodgeable by a blow, a fire alarm, and

fire alarm and for initiating the dislodgment of the pressure seal upon a rise intemperature above 'a given maximum 5(The combination with a container for able-to expel sa1d extinguishing element,

to said container, a pressure seal of plugshape for said communication, and dislodge ableby. a blow, means .for dislodging the pressure seal, means for anchoring said dislodging means against actuation, and means sensitive to arise in temperature above a given maximum to release said anchoring means upon such rise in temperature.

6. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure dischargeable to expel a fire-extinguishing element, of a pressure seal of plug shape for closing'said. tank against discharge and dislodgeable by for dislodging said pressure a blow, means seal by a blow, dislodging means again op and means for anchoring said eration under northe sounding of said.

mal temperature butsens1tive to release said seal dislodging means upon a rise in tem-- perature above a given maxlmum.

able to expel a fire-extinguishing element, of a pressure-seal of plugshape for closing sa a tank. for contank against discharge and dislodgeable by a blow, a rod, a reciprocally mounted bolt for striking said rod to strike in turn said seal to dislodge the same, means for anchoring said bolt against actuation, and means operable to release said anchoring means upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum, but anchoring said releasing means under normal temperature.

8. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire extinguishing element, there being an opening in said tank from which its contents are discharged, a plug for closing said opening dislodgeable by a blow, and means for dislodging said plug upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum.

9; The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure,-dischargeable to expel a'fire extinguishing element, there being a conical opening in said tank from which its contents are discharged, a conical plug dislodgeable by a blow for closing said opening, a thin annular edge formed in the inner outwardly flaring end of said plug to engage the side wall of said opening and be pressed tightly thereagainst by the pressure in said tank, and means for knocking said plug inwardly into said tank upon a rise in temperature above a givenmaximum.

10. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire extinguishing element, there being an opening in said tank through which its contents are discharged, 'a screen receptacle formed inside of said tank around said opening, a plug seal dislodgeable by a 'blow for closing said opening, and means for knocking said seal into said screen receptacle thereby to open said opening upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum.

11. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a tire extinguishing element, there being a conical opening in said tank through which its contents are discharged,- a screen receptacle formed inside of Stud tank around said open ng, a conical plug rod, a reciprocably mounted bolt for striking said rod to in turn strike said seal to destroy the same, resilient means for actuating said bolt into striking action, a pin for anchoring said bolt outof striking action, resilient means for actuating said pin, a fusible bar for anchoring said pin in anchoring position, an electrical heater for heating said bar, and means operable upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum to initiate a current through said heater.

13. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire extinguishing element, a seal for closing said tank against discharge, a rod, a cylinder, a bolt reciprocably mounted a fusible bar for anchoring said pin to cooperate with said balls to anchor said bolt inactive, resilient means for actuating said pin when said bar collapses, an electrical heater for heating the bar so that the same will give way, and means operable upon a rise in'temperature above a given maximum to initiate a current through said heater.

ll. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire extinguishing element, a seal for closing said tank against discharge, a rod, a cylinder, a bolt reciprocably mounted in said cylinder for striking said rod to in turn strike said seal to destroy the same, there being a chamber in said bolt, a pin reciprocably mounted in said chamber, resilient means for actuating said bolt into striking action, there being pockets in said cylinder, there being recesses forming communications between said chamber and said pockets when the bolt is locked inactive, balls for registering with said pockets, recesses, and pin to anchor said bolt inactive, a fusible bar for anchoring said pin to cooperate with said balls to anchor said bolt inactive, resilient means for actuating said pin when said bar collapses, an electrical "heater for heating the bar so that the same will give way, electrical contacts, fusible means for maintaining said contacts spaced from one another under normal temperature but fusible to bring said contacts into contact upona rise in temperature above a given maximum, electrical conductors for connecting said heater with said contacts and a source. ofelectrical energy, a shunt for shunting said heater after said fusible bar has given way, and contacts for said shunt spaced from one another when said bar is intact but operable to contact when said bar collapses thereby to shunt said heater.

15./ The combination with'a tank for containing a fluid under pressure discharge'able to expel a fire-extinguishing element, of a cesses, and pin to anchor said bolt inactive,

pressure seal of plug shape for closing said tank against discharge and dislodgeable by a blow, a bolt operatively connected to strike said seal and dislodge the same, resilient means for actuating said bolt, a fusible bar, an electrical heater for heating said bar so that the same will give way, means operable upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum to initiate acurrent through said heater, and means controlled by said bar for anchoring said bolt inactive against the tension of said resilient means.

16. The combination with atank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire extinguishing element, a

' seal for closing said tank against discharge,

a bolt operatively connected to strike said seal and destroy the same, Ineansfor actuating said bolt, a fusible bar, an electrical heater for heating said bar so that the same 7 will give way, electrical contacts, fusible means for maintaining said contacts spaced from on another under normal temperature but fusible to bring said contacts into contact upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum, electrical conductors for connecting said heater with said contacts and a source of electrical energy, a shunt for shunting said heater after sa1d fusible bar has given way, contacts for said shunt spaced from one another when said Mr is intact, but operable to contact when said bar collapses thereby to shunt said heater, and means controlled by said bar for anchoring said bolt inactive against the tension of said resilient means.

17. The combination with a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, dischargeable to expel a fire-extinguishing element, of a pressure seal of plug-shape for closing said tank against discharge and dislodgeable by a blow, a bolt operatively connected to strike said seal and dislodge the same, means for actuating said bolt, a fusible bar, an electrical heater for heating said bar so that the same will give Way, electrical contacts, fusible means for maintaining said contacts spaced one from another under normal temperature, but fusible to bring said contacts into contact upon a rise in temperature above a given maximum, electrical conductors for connecting said heater with saidcontacts and a source of electrical energy, and means controlled by said bar for anchoring said bolt inactive against the tension of said actuating means.

DAVID LAWSON. Witnesses:

F. T. SAss, H. D. PENNEY". 

